Mumbai: A 35-year-old disc jockey, who is accused of repeatedly raping his Mexican colleague, was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, said the Bandra police.
Based on the foreign national's complaint filed on November 27, Pratik Pandey was arrested two days later.
Background of the case
According to the FIR, the duo came into contact through social media in 2017. Pandey offered the woman a DJ job in his party and event organising company. Gradually, they became romantically involved.
In July 2019, the accused allegedly forced himself upon the complainant at his Bandra residence. Thereafter, he sexually exploited her on multiple occasions while threatening to sack her if she didn't comply.
Accused continued to harass victim even after his marriage
Even after getting married in 2020, the accused continued to demand sexual favours from the woman and finally terminated her employment in 2022. Later, when Pandey came to know that the aggrieved was in love with another man, he threatened both of them.
In August 2023, he again tried to sexually assault the woman in an auto, according to the FIR.
Victim's advocate, Arbaaz Pathan, said, “Several other foreign women, who faced similar exploitation, have approached us. They are willing to provide statements to the police.” Representing Pandey, Advocate Akshay Gosavi rejected the claim, saying, “The woman suffers from psychological issues, which contributed to her step (of filing the case). This was a consensual affair and she misused the Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape) and 377 (unnatural offences).”
